Proposal to build permanent Marin farmers market among measures on June ballot

Six measures will appear on the June 3 ballot benefiting local school districts, adding more funding to local libraries, and creating a permanent home for the farmers market.

The measures are:

Measure A: Would provide funding to the Marin County Free Library by extending a $49 per year parcel tax for another nine years. The measure would also provide for yearly increases in the tax to adjust for increases in the Consumer Price Index. The tax measure requires two-thirds support to pass.

Measure B: Asks Marin voters to approve the creation of a permanent home for the farmers market, near the Marin Center on the Civic Center campus, and would result in no new taxes. Voter approval is required due to a 1992 ballot initiative that mandated voter approval of plans for new Civic Center buildings. Current plans call for a market canopy and an indoor market building not to exceed 30,000 square feet. An expert recommended by the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy will be consulted before the final plan is authorized. It requires support of a majority of those voting in June to pass.

Measure C: Seeks voter approval for the Petaluma Joint Union High School District to sell $68 million in bonds. The money would be used to repair deteriorating plumbing and sewer systems, upgrade electrical systems, renovate athletic fields, upgrade classrooms and other facilities, and purchase computer equipment for student use. It is projected that district residents would be taxed no more than $29 per year per $100,000 of assessed valuation of taxable property. The tax measure requires 55 percent support to pass.

Measure D: Seeks voter approval for the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District to sell $19 million in bonds. The money would be used to replace portables, construct new classrooms, complete fire and earthquake safety upgrades; remove lead, asbestos and other hazardous material and upgrade outdated heating, ventilation and electrical systems. It is projected that district residents would be taxed no more than $30 per year per $100,000 of assessed valuation of taxable property. The tax measure requires 55 percent support to pass.

Measure E: Would provide funding to the San Anselmo library by levying a $54 per year parcel tax for nine years. This measure would also provide for a 3 percent annual cost of living increase in the tax.

San Anselmo's library services tax is designed to augment funding currently provided by the town. If during the nine years this tax is in effect the town's funding for the library decreased by more than 10 percent from its 2012-2013 funding level of $449,765, the tax would no longer be levied. The tax measure requires two-thirds support to pass.

Measure F: Is a request by the Stinson Beach County Water District to increase its annual appropriations limit to $1,425,910 for fiscal years 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2017-18. Voting for the measure will not increase or decrease residents' taxes. In 1979, the voters of California approved Proposition 4, which set annual limits on how much tax revenue special districts may spend. The law allows voters to approve an override to increase the appropriation limit for up to four years. If Measure F fails to pass, property tax revenue that would otherwise be available to the Stinson Beach County Water District will be put to use by some other government entity. The approval of a majority of those voting would be necessary for the measure to pass.